Now that Thanksgiving is over and the countdown to Christmas is officially on, it’s time to trim the tree. But, if you’re looking for some new ornaments to add to the mix this year, there’s no need to go shopping or spend big bucks. You can just as easily DIY with everyday items in your home!
Cereal boxes, K-cups, toilet paper rolls, light bulbs, old sweaters, mason jar lids, and even cinnamon sticks are all things that can be turned into fabulous tree decorations.
Even an old house key can be turned into an adorable ornament like this one here.
If you need some ideas, then check out these 55 upcycled Christmas ornaments that you can make with everyday household items right now.
1) Toilet Paper Snowman Ornament
What does a toilet roll, tissue paper, and a snowman have in common? When they’re all rolled into one, they make a whimsical holiday centerpiece!
Learn how to make this toilet paper snowman over on this blog here.
2) Metal Juice Can Top Ornaments
You know those frozen juice cans that are made of cardboard and come with a metal top? Well, save those metal tops! They’re perfect for upcycling into these cute photo ornaments.
Follow the instructions on this blog here to learn how to make them.
3) Grandma’s Old Brooch Ornament
If you’re not down with wearing grandma’s old costume jewelry, then drape it on your Christmas tree and give it a sparkly new look! What may be too fancy for you is perfect for the the blingy holiday season.
This blog here has more info on using vintage costume jewelry as ornaments.
4) Light Bulb Penguin Ornaments
When the light goes out, don’t toss the old bulbs into the trash. Save them so you can make these adorable penguin ornaments!
This blog here will show you exactly how to make old light bulbs shine bright again.
5) Vintage Holiday Lights Ornament
If you have vintage holiday light bulbs hiding in your attic, then this DIY will light up your Christmas tree in an entirely new way. Modge Podge and glitter it like crazy to get the shiny, mirror-like effect.
If you have a pair of ripped jeans that’s giving you the blues, then rrip them up so more so that you can upcycle them into these super cute denim ornaments! Cut them into star, tree, snowflake, or gingerbread man shapes, then embellish them with beads and buttons to bring on the holiday cheer.
This blog here will walk you through a step-by-step picture tutorial.
7) Toy Truck Ornament
If your kiddo is bored with his or her collection of toy cars and trucks, make them seem cool all over again by upcycling them into these fun tree ornaments! This project is easy enough for small children to take on, and they’ll have a blast gluing miniature trees and wreaths onto the truck.
This blog here will show you how to make this kid-friendly ornament.
8) Cereal Box Fabric Ornaments
This project is actually a DIY dream because you get to upcycle two different things at once. Almost every household has cereal boxes, and if you don’t have any scraps of fabric, you can always raid the back of your closet!
This site here will show you how to make these adorable, zero-cost ornaments.
9) Cereal Box Snowflake Ornaments
Here’s another fun way you can reuse those cereal boxes. Copper and blue patina spray paint are what give these aged copper snowflakes a cool vintage look.
Don’t throw away the last scraps of your cereal boxes just yet! Turn them into gift tags that can also be used as Christmas tree ornaments. Just print out of your favorite photo and glue them onto the box. Then cut the cardboard into a tag shape, hole punch the top, and string a pretty ribbon through it.
11) Music Sheet Ornaments
Do you have a collection of old sheet music gathering dust in the attic? Give them a chance to make your heart sing all over again by transforming them into these one-of-a-kind ornaments!
This blog here will show you how to make them, and they even provide a free downloadable printable of vintage sheet music right here if you happen to need some.
12) Travel Suitcase Ornament
Believe it or not, this tiny suitcase ornament is actually made from a repurposed cardboard jewelry box! It even closes shut so you can stuff it full of mini travel memories.
This double whammy of a DIY transforms old yardsticks and Scrabble game pieces into a gorgeous holiday ornament. This is one time where you’ll want to make absolutely sure that you get the spelling just right!
This blog here has a full tutorial waiting for you.
14) Sweater Ornaments
This sweater ornament is super easy to make. All you need is an old ball ornament, scraps of fabric from an old sweater (the sleeve from a toddler-sized one works best), and some hot glue to seal up the ends.
This cute snowman ornament is so easy to make, you don’t really need much in the way of instructions. Just cover a burned out light bulb in glue and glitter, then add some twigs for the arms. Don’t forget to give Frosty some eyes and a carrot nose, too!
You can find all the DIY instructions for this cute Christmas project right here.
16) Straw Ornament
If you want to make an ornament that resembles traditional eastern European ornaments from the past, then look no further than this geometric straw ornament. Although the shape is classic, the plastic straws that are used to make it are not.
Get the full tutorial for this unique Christmas tree trimming on this blog over here.
17) Cookie Cutter Ornaments
This cookie cutter ornament is a great project for the kids. Not only is it super easy to make, but it involves two things they love do: cutting out shapes with scissors and glue!
For more info and a quick how-to, check out this blog here.
18) Wine Cork Reindeer Ornament
Wine has been known to flush a few cheeks, but this adorable wine cork ornament is bringing out the red in Rudolph’s nose. Googly eyes, pipe cleaner antlers, and a fluffy red pom pom are what make this project so fun!
Head on over to this blog here for all the info on this holiday DIY.
19) Wine Cork Wreath Ornament
Every time you save a wine cork, you’re one step closer to making a tree ornament like this one. When you have enough of them saved up, just hot glue them together in a circle and use a pushpin to attach a ribbon.
20) Faux Mercury Glass Ornament
A mercury glass polar bear ornament like this one costs around $30 at Pottery Barn, but you can make a decent knock-off version for much less. Just use a plastic polar bear figurine, or any plastic figurine you have lying around, and coat it in some Krylon “Looking Glass” spray paint.
Get all the instructions for this DIY on this blog here.
21) K-Cup Reindeer Ornament
This K-Cup reindeer DIY is so easy, it’ll make you want to extra cups of coffee just to make more of them! Even though this wasn’t originally created as an ornament project, you can easily turn it into one by punching an extra hole in the top (next to the one the Keurig makes) and stringing a ribbon, wire, or string through it.
Get the full tutorial on this adorable project here.
22) Popsicle Stick Sled Ornament
You can put this cute sled ornament together in a flash using just Popsicle sticks, glue, paint, and some twine. Rub sandpaper on the edges to give it a vintage “used” look.
23) Fabric Bow Tie Ornament
If you struggle with DIY projects because you don’t actually have things like glitter, glue, or spray paint lying around and don’t want to purchase anything new, then you’ll love the simplicity of this bow tie ornament. Who knew scraps of old, discarded fabric could actually end up looking so pretty?
Learn more about this simple DIY on this blog here.
24) Bottle Cap Ornaments
Have you been saving up all your bottle caps for a rainy day? Well now is the time to cash in, and the reward is well worth the wait!
Get the full tutorial on how to make these adorable bottle cap ornaments on this blog here.
25) Soda Can Leaf Ornament
If you like your DIY’s to be super easy and cost absolutely nothing, then you’ll love this upcycled leaf ornament. All you need is a pair of scissors, a ribbon, and maybe some bandages in case you cut yourself.
Find out more about this simple ornament project on this blog here.
26) Cinnamon Stick Reindeer Ornaments
Quick and easy ornaments like this one make you wonder why you don’t DIY it more often! If you don’t want to “waste” a new cinnamon stick on this project, then rinse it with hot water and let it dry out before you upcycle it into this cute reindeer ornament.
You can find out more info and quick how-to on this blog here.
27) Paper Towel Roll Ornaments
Next time you might want to think twice about throwing those empty paper towel rolls into the trash. All it takes is some glitter and glue to make these paper towel star ornaments look glamorous!
Check out the step-by-step tutorial on this blog here.
28) Mason Jar Lid Ornament
Do you love to embroider but don’t have an embroidery hoop handy? If you have a wide mouth canning ring and some fabric, then you actually have everything you need to make this fun Christmas tree ornament!
Instructions for this easy DIY can be found right here.
29) Greeting Card Ornament
How many greeting cards do you get year after year that eventually wind up in the trash? If there’s a Nativity scene on the front, then be sure to save it so you cut it out and transform it into this greeting card ornament!
If you already have enough ornaments on your tree, then just upgrade what you already have. As you can see here, it doesn’t take much to transform ordinary ball ornaments into Ninja Turtles. Cowabunga, dude!
Who knew that twigs and ribbons could look so cool! If you don’t have any ribbons lying around, just rip up some scraps of fabric, like an old t-shirt.
Find out more about how to make this rustic tree ornament on this blog here.
32) Broken CD Ornament
This project is actually be a little bit therapeutic. If you don’t have any broken CD’s, you get to smash them to pieces! Then glue them onto a ball ornament for a shattered mirror effect.
Pom poms and pinecones – what could be more fun? But, if you have cats, you better watch out. They’ll be really tempted to play with this colorful, fuzzy ornament.
Learn how to make these whimsical ornaments right here.
34) Clothespin Snowflake Ornament
Do you have some broken clothespins lying around? Great! Then you’re already halfway to making this cute snowflake ornament. Although these simple snowflakes were made without any extra embellishments, feel free to add your own.
Ice skating and Christmas are two things that go hand in hand. Even if you don’t live in a place where lakes and ponds freeze over, you can still bring the joy of ice skating into your home with this adorable ornament.
Get the how-to on this paper clip ornament right here.
36) Button Wreath Ornament
This cute DIY is a great way to add some extra sparkle to your tree without investing any extra time or money. It’s so easy to make, that even a toddler or preschooler can do it!
You can find out more info about this project right here.
37) Puzzle Pieces Snowflake Ornament
Have you lost a puzzle piece or two, and now you think the whole thing is of no use? Not so fast! Those puzzle pieces can be put back together again with this clever snowflake ornament!
Do you drink a lot of soda or beer? Well you’re going to have to in order to make this big shiny ball ornament! Don’t worry if you don’t have enough tabs to pull off this project, there’s still plenty of time before Christmas to hit up friends and coworkers for extras.
Check out this blog here for instructions on this fun DIY.
39) Toilet Paper Roll Angel Ornament
The challenge of taking something ordinary and transforming it into something new is what every upcycler aims to do. And that’s exactly what’s happening right here! At first glance you wouldn’t even know that these sweet little angel ornaments actually started out life as a humble toilet paper roll.
Get the full tutorial on this toilet paper roll upgrade right here.
40) Mint Tin Ornaments
If you don’t have a collection of mint tins started just yet, now is the perfect time to do it! What’s great about these ornaments is that you can hide a cute little surprise on the inside.
For ideas and more info about these cool mint tin ornaments, check out this site here.
41) Toilet Paper Roll Santa Ornament
It’s hard to believe that these whimsical red Santa’s are actually made from toilet paper rolls!
To make one of these for your tree, just push the bottom of the roll inwards to make the legs. Then paint the whole thing red, and cut out a triangular piece of paper to make his face. Add a cotton ball to make the hat and then attach a twine loop to the top.
Don’t worry if you don’t have any cool vintage wooden sewing spools lying around. This holiday-themed upcycle is actually perfect for the cheap plastic spool that all sewing thread comes with these days. You’ll also need some felt, buttons, and jute string, but those are pretty easy to come by.
This K-cup snowman is just too cute for words! If you’re not already drinking tons of coffee or tea, then this fun ornament DIY might inspire you to have an extra cup every morning.
Head on over to this blog here for more info and instructions.
44) Paperclip Angel Ornaments
Are you one of those people that love to play around with paper clips and twist them out of place when you get bored at work? Then you could probably make a dozen of these fun little paper clip angles without even thinking about.
Learn more and get the how-to on this easy DIY right here.
45) Baby Sock Ornament
Celebrate your baby’s first Christmas by transforming the sock they wore home from the hospital into this fuzzy little keepsake ornament! You can even personalize it by adding some bead letters with his or her name.
Head on over to this blog here for instructions on how to make this adorable baby sock ornament.
46) Paintbrush Ornaments
Don’t toss old paintbrushes away just because they’re’re looking beat up or frayed. Upcycle the instead! Ironically enough, you’ll need to actually paint them in order to transform them into these whimsical ornaments!
This crayon ornament was actually created by teacher for her students to make on Thanksgiving. But, you can substitute the orange foam backing for green or red to give it more of a Christmas feel.
Find out more about this kid-friendly crayon ornament right here.
48) Matchbox Gift Ornaments
These mini gift box ornaments can be made with either a matchbox or pieces of cardboard (from Amazon or cereal boxes) that have been taped together to form a box. Be sure to take your time wrapping it carefully, so that this gift can keep on giving to your Christmas tree year after year.
Check out this blog here for more detailed instructions.
49) Zipper Ornament
If you rip apart your worn-out denim jeans or pants to make scrap fabric ornaments, don’t forget to save the zipper. You can transform that into a fun holiday ornament, too!
If you’re like most people, you probably have a extra pair or two of cheap sunglasses lying around. Go grab them so you can get to working making this eye-popping snowman ornament!
Head on over to this blog here for all the details on this DIY.
51) Cotton Ball Olaf Ornament
Kids will be delighted to see Olaf from the movie Frozen hanging around on the Christmas tree! It’s a kid-friendly project, so let them grab the cotton balls and Q-tips from the bathroom cabinet, and you can supply the pipe cleaner and googly eyes.
What’s great about this project is that there’s so many different and unique looks you can create with scrap fabric and a circular cardboard wreath. You can even adorn it with ribbons and string pearls – it all depends on what you have on hand.
This blog here has DIY instructions and pictures of even more scrap fabric wreaths go give you some ideas.
53) Salt Shaker Ornaments
Here’s a quick DIY that will only take 5 minutes to make. Fill an old salt or spice shaker with Epsom salts and add a tiny bottle brush tree. Poke a hole into the lid so you can loop a ribbon through it to turn this into an ornament. Then add a bow tie and you’re done!
If you wan additional ideas on how to embellish this ornament, check out this blog here.
54) Coiled Magazine Pages Ornaments
These adorable little ornaments are easy to make, and if you have some magazines lying around, they’re pretty much free. The hard part, rolling the magazine pages into little coils, isn’t all that hard, it just take a little bit of extra time.
Have you ever noticed how plastic 2-liter soda bottles have a petal shape on the bottom? Well that shape is actually perfect for making making these snowflake ornaments! Just paint the inside with acrylic paint and you’re pretty much done.
Now that Thanksgiving is over and the countdown to Christmas is officially on, it’s time to trim the tree. But, if you’re looking for some new ornaments to add to the mix this year, there’s no need to go shopping or spend big bucks. You can just as easily DIY with everyday items in your home!
Cereal boxes, K-cups, toilet paper rolls, light bulbs, old sweaters, mason jar lids, and even cinnamon sticks are all things that can be turned into fabulous tree decorations.
Even an old house key can be turned into an adorable ornament like this one here.
If you need some ideas, then check out these 55 upcycled Christmas ornaments that you can make with everyday household items right now.